Photos: Virtual Reality Puts Adults in a Child's World

Seeing the World From a Child's Perspective

A 2013 study by University of Barcelona researchers has found that virtual reality can make people see the world from a child's perspective.

Seeing the World in a Child's Body With Virtual Reality

Credit: Courtesy of Mel Slater

In one scenario, participants viewed themselves in a child's body.

Viewing a Version of an Adult's Body with Virtual Reality

Credit: Courtesy of Mel Slater

In another scenario, participants viewed themselves in a scaled-down version of an adult's body.

Virtual Reality Suit

Credit: Courtesy of Mel Slater

The team used motion capture-sensors to synchronize the virtual avatar's motion with the movement of the real-life adult's body.

Creating Immersive Realities with Virtual Reality

Credit: Courtesy of Mel Slater

Virtual reality can create immersive realities that can alter people's perceptions of themselves.

Estimating the Size of Objects

Credit: Courtesy of Mel Slater

Afterwards, adults had to estimate the size of objects. People in both world's estimated objects were larger than they really were.

Altered Perception in Childlike Avatars

Credit: Courtesy of Mel Slater

Those inhabiting the child's body, however, had a bigger tendency to overestimate object sizes.

Childlike Room and a Neutrally-Decorated Room

Credit: Courtesy of Mel Slater

Later, when asked which room to choose, people who had a childlike avatar consistently chose a childlike room (left) over a more neutrally decorated room.

Virtual Reality Helps People Understand Child's Viewpoint

Credit: Courtesy of Mel Slater

The findings suggest that just a little bit of time in a virtual reality environment could help people understand a child's point of view better.

Subconscious Bias After Virtual Reality

Credit: Courtesy of Mel Slater

In addition, in a test of subconscious bias, those who spent just a few minutes inhabiting the child's body tended to associate more with childish words.

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Seeing the World From a Child's Perspective

Credit: Courtesy of Mel Slater

A 2013 study by University of Barcelona researchers has found that virtual reality can make people see the world from a child's perspective.

Seeing the World in a Child's Body With Virtual Reality

Credit: Courtesy of Mel Slater

In one scenario, participants viewed themselves in a child's body.

Viewing a Version of an Adult's Body with Virtual Reality

Credit: Courtesy of Mel Slater

In another scenario, participants viewed themselves in a scaled-down version of an adult's body.

Virtual Reality Suit

Credit: Courtesy of Mel Slater

The team used motion capture-sensors to synchronize the virtual avatar's motion with the movement of the real-life adult's body.

Creating Immersive Realities with Virtual Reality

Credit: Courtesy of Mel Slater

Virtual reality can create immersive realities that can alter people's perceptions of themselves.

Estimating the Size of Objects

Credit: Courtesy of Mel Slater

Afterwards, adults had to estimate the size of objects. People in both world's estimated objects were larger than they really were.

Altered Perception in Childlike Avatars

Credit: Courtesy of Mel Slater

Those inhabiting the child's body, however, had a bigger tendency to overestimate object sizes.

Childlike Room and a Neutrally-Decorated Room

Credit: Courtesy of Mel Slater

Later, when asked which room to choose, people who had a childlike avatar consistently chose a childlike room (left) over a more neutrally decorated room.

Virtual Reality Helps People Understand Child's Viewpoint

Credit: Courtesy of Mel Slater

The findings suggest that just a little bit of time in a virtual reality environment could help people understand a child's point of view better.

Subconscious Bias After Virtual Reality

Credit: Courtesy of Mel Slater

In addition, in a test of subconscious bias, those who spent just a few minutes inhabiting the child's body tended to associate more with childish words.